The Valley is home to some of the top home-design and build talents in the nation. (Frank Lloyd Wright did choose to have a home and his school here, after all.) Here, five local pros pick some of their favorite custom projects, all with striking good looks, high-end craftsmanship and the longing stares of everyone who happens to pass by.
BY MELISSA LARSEN
WORLDLY WONDER
LOCATION: Scottsdale
YEAR BUILT: 2007 (addition was built in 2013) BUILDER: Salcito Custom Homes
ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER: Dale Gardon Design
DESIGN AESTHETIC: Formal Mediterranean
STANDOUT FEATURES: “The approximately 9,400-sq.-ft. formal Mediterranean estate exhibits a regal quality with grandeur in scale and proportion akin to great historic properties across the country and the world. From the custom-designed hand-carved Italian Lecce limestone façade to the intricately patterned marble floor of the Grand Hall, you know you have walked into a highly crafted masterpiece accomplished by Salcito Custom Homes, who executed the original design, and then several years later again in the remodel for a subsequent new owner. Dale Gardon, AIA, LEED AP, and principal of Dale Gardon Design was at the helm each time throughout the original main villa design, the main villa remodel and then the final component of the guest villa design. The main villa and guest villa have a beautiful consistency in traditional ornate detail throughout, but they also strategically incorporate a newer introduction of contemporary influences in millwork, lighting and furnishings. Similar to the finest examples of traditional architecture seen in Milan, Paris or Florence, the traditional character often has a more interesting juxtaposition of old and new.”
SALCITO.COM
DALEGARDONDESIGN.COM
THE GLASS MASTER
LOCATION: Scottsdale
YEAR BUILT: 2013
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: PHX Architecture
BUILDER: Salcito Custom Homes
INTERIOR DESIGN: Lawrence Lake Interiors and Chanikva Studio
DESIGN AESTHETIC: Soft Southwest Contemporary
STANDOUT FEATURES: “Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired leaded/stained glass installation; it is 40-feet long and 9-feet tall around the front courtyard. The bathroom has a “wet room” (bathtub and shower are in the same space), and there’s also an outdoor shower off of a bathroom patio.”
PHXARCH.COM
SALCITO.COM
LAWRENCELAKEINTERIORS.COM
CHANIKVASTUDIO.COM
MOUNTAIN MAJESTY
LOCATION: Paradise Valley
YEAR BUILT: 2008
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: Jon C. Bernhard, AIA (Swaback Partners, Partner)
BUILDER: Chess Pacific Corp
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Studio V
DESIGN AESTHETIC: Contemporary
STANDOUT FEATURES: “The two-story 8,988-sq.-ft. home sits unobtrusively on the east side of Camelback Mountain. Its radial-plan design provides panoramic views to the north and east and an immediate mountain backdrop to the south and west. Much of the architecture is expressed and exposed. Materials include Mesa stone (a smooth, integrally colored block with aggregate) and stepped split-faced masonry for the walls and columns, which rise 20 to 30 feet; water-jet-cut large-format granite floors and decks with flamed finish, shaped to follow radial floor plan design (each piece is unique in size and shape—up to 4-feet wide and 4-feet thick, and therefore had to be numbered for placement); exposed structural steel for support and cantilevered shade trellises; and extensive spans of high-performance glass. Water features are prominent. At the entry drive court, a natural water feature with native boulders and cascading water provides a visual and acoustical arrival experience; water is also integrated into the steps and paths to the entry door and forms a backdrop to sculpture gardens. One of the sculptures is a large bronze boar created by the artist that created a similar boar displayed in a public plaza in Florence, Italy. The boar is well-known for offering good luck by rubbing its snout. Also, on the mountain side, the cut to the mountain was reconstructed with boulders, over which water cascades to a reflecting pond directly adjacent to the dining room and gallery windows, providing an intimate connection to the mountain.”
SWABACKPARTNERS.COM
CHESSPACIFIC.COM
STUDIOVINTERIORS.COM
TWO-STORY STUNNER
LOCATION: Tempe
YEAR BUILT: 2004
BUILDER AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: 180 Degrees
DESIGN AESTHETIC: Modern
STANDOUT FEATURES: “Arcadia doors, storefront and window systems.”
MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF THE PROJECT: “Multiple private courtyards that introduce natural light to the house while preserving privacy.”
180DEGREESINC.COM
THE NEW NORMAL
LOCATION: Scottsdale
YEAR BUILT: 2013
BUILDER: Cullum Homes
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: Strong Kennedy Architects
DESIGN AESTHETIC: Soft Southwest Contemporary
MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF THE PROJECT: “Creating the blueprint for a luxury home design that delivers the ‘new normal’ of a smaller footprint, impeccable design and craftsmanship, lower maintenance, highly desirable location and a lock- and-leave lifestyle that appeals to homeowners wishing to ‘right-size’ their residence.”
WORDS OF ADVICE FOR BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME: “Spend time figuring out what the most important aspects of your future home are. Where will it be located? What are the most important features of that location? What are your current and future space needs? Who will be living in the home or visiting the home, like children, grandchildren, aging parents, long-term caregivers? Is there need for a home office or adaptable housing features that allow for wheelchair access, for example? Excellent design allows flexibility for needs that can change over time. Be sure to consider all potential costs when developing your project budget, including land, site work, building permits and fees, construction costs, interior finishes, furniture and window coverings. Expect the building process to be like life in general: there are always challenges of some kind along the way. Choose an experienced builder with a proven track record over a long period of time, and one who has the systems and staff in place to handle a complex project.”
CULLUMHOMES.COM
HOME GREEN HOME
Five key tips to customize a luxurious, sustainable home from real estate developer, Ed Gorman of MODUS Development.
INTEGRATED DESIGN – It is important to make sure that all energy-efficiency items work together to be most effective as the green home is only as efficient as its weakest component. For example, having an energy-efficient heat pump does not help as much if the wall insulation is inadequate. Moreover, the poor insulation will require more heating and cooling equipment.
ORIENTATION – The efficiency of a building depends on which direction the building faces and the amount of windows and doors on the east and west exposures. The most efficient orientation is to have the length of the home run east and west, with a limited amount of glass on those two ends. When installing windows on the east and west face, it is best to either recess them or provide awnings to eliminate direct exposure from the sun.
INSULATION - Up to 50 percent of a home’s energy savings are derived from the building envelope (walls, windows and insulation). The amount and type of insulation make a significant difference. Homebuilders and developers should opt to use spray foam insulation because it also seals all joints and connections and provides secured insulation. The better insulated the building is, less is required to spend on heating and air conditioning systems and energy bills.
HEAT PUMP - The biggest consumption of energy in a home is caused by the heating and cooling system so it is best to install the most efficient system that fits into a custom homebuilder’s financial plan.
WATER HEATING - On-demand (electric and gas) and hybrid electric water heaters are more than 60 percent energy efficient than traditional tank hot water heaters. Typically, hot water heating is the second largest user of energy in a home.
